Chevy Pits Cruze Against Corolla & Civic

How well does the Cruze stack up against the Corolla & Civic?

What is the most important Chevrolet product released over the past few years or soon to be introduced?

Some people may say the Camaro, as that vehicle put Chevrolet squarely back in the pony car game, pitting it against the Ford Mustang. Others might say the Equinox and Traverse as these two models have proven that GM can build crossovers which are at the top of their respective segments. The Malibu has shown Chevrolet’s midsize car prowess while the electrified Volt is likely to win honors as the most hyped product of our time.

Actually, none of these vehicles will likely have as much of an effect on the Chevrolet brand as its compact Cruze, set to be introduced within the next month. Replacing the bland Cobalt, the Cruze is everything a compact sedan should be and more: stylish, roomy, well appointed and highly fuel efficient. The latter two attributes have rarely been seen in a GM model of this size, but the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is about to change that.

Cruze Confidence

GM is confident that the Cruze has what it takes and is urging its dealers to buy at least one car each from its top competitors — the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. In July, when GM introduced the Cruze to the national press corps in Washington, D.C., we were able to drive the Cruze, Corolla and Civic back-to-back for comparison purposes.

My personal observation of all three has the Cruze on top, which is what GM hopes Chevrolet shoppers will also conclude.

Of course, there is always a risk that customers will choose a competing model especially when those vehicles are showcased front and center at a local Chevrolet dealership. However, that means you are confident that your product is better than the rest and not a mere equal. And, judging by its clean and well appointed interior, superior gas mileage and midsize car roominess, GM finally has a product it doesn’t have to make an apology for.

Cruze Importance

Cobalt sales have hovered around 200,000 annual units from 2005-2008 which is the floor Cruze sales should hit despite ongoing economic weakness. Ideally, Cruze sales will be much higher, perhaps approaching levels reached by the Cavalier during the 1980s when sales peaked well above 400,000 units annually.

Yes, stiffer competition and more of it will be a factor, but if Chevrolet can siphon some sales from Toyota and Honda while giving customers a reason not to purchase the upcoming Ford Focus, the current Hyundai Elantra or the Nissan Altima, then a middle ground number seems likely.

That net increase could put Chevrolet ahead of Ford and within striking range of Toyota, currently the best-selling automotive brand in the United States.

Photo Credit: General Motors Company

GM Poaches Hyundai…Again

Korean automaker gives up another exec

Hyundai needs to circle the wagons if they are to succeed in keeping General Motors away from its key marketing people.

Chris Perry (L); Jim Campbell (R)

For the second time this year, a key Hyundai executive has left the Korean automaker and is heading to GM. Today, GM announced that Chris Perry has been named Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing replacing Jim Campbell who has been reassigned.

Earlier this year GM grabbed Joel Ewanick although when that poaching took place, Ewanick had already left Hyundai for Nissan. Six weeks into his Nissan gig, GM gave Ewanick an offer he couldn’t refuse, naming him vice-president of U.S. marketing.

Marketing Pro

Perry’s career has been on the ascendancy, having spent 10 years at now defunct American Isuzu Motors before heading to Hyundai in 2000. Though Hyundai’s position in the market has improved dramatically since then, GM still sells more vehicles globally than its Korean competitor. Likely, GM sees Hyundai as much of a threat to its business as anyone else, but they’re willing to snag top Hyundai performers especially if that move helps their own business.

Campbell will land on his feet as Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. According to GM,  Campbell will be” responsible for integrating the engineering and marketing of performance versions of current production models, as well as all motorsports activities.” Sounds like a fun job, perhaps better than having to market a wide variety of Chevy products.

Hyundai Magic

As for Perry, he’ll report to Ewanick. Perhaps they’ll do for Chevrolet and General Motors what they did for Hyundai, creating a groundswell of interest in various product lines. Also, maybe they’ll help GM complete a Hyundai trifecta by poaching yet another executive  to bolster some other GM brand.

Stay tuned! The wheels on the bus go round and round….

Source: General Motors Company

Click here for entire press release.

V6 Corvette In Your Future?

Lighter Corvette Coming?

Say good-bye to a V8 powered Corvette?

Quick! If you want a potent V8 engine for your Corvette, then you need to buy the C7 model. That’s because General Motors is looking to build the C8 edition with a V6…placed transversely and positioned in the middle of the body!

MPG Figures

You’ve expected as much given the coming much more rigorous fuel requirements taking place effective 2016, right? Beginning with that model year, automaker car fleets must average a lofty 35.5 miles per gallon.

GM has at least 10 mpg to make up before it can hit that number and the Corvette as it currently stands is at 16 mpg city, 26 mpg highway when equipped with its 6.2-liter V8 paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. That’s much better than some Corvette models which get 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, but far off the mark where GM needs to move toward.

Saab Helps

GM may be much further along with its next generation Chevrolet Corvette than some believe that it is. According to Mibz.com, GM worked with Saab (its one-time Swedish love child) to develop a mid-engine placement for the Corvette, but those plans were shelved as the company’s financial straits worsened. Now, with a glimmer of light showing, GM can move forward with its plans.

Some of what is being reported is pure speculation, but it is reasonable to assume that a V6 engine would be placed in a lighter body, but GM won’t rely on that alone to make sure the Corvette remains fast. Twin turbochargers seem likely, providing the V6 with tons of horsepower while enabling the Corvette to get decent gas mileage. Don’t be surprised if GM makes their own arrangement with ZF to acquire their eight speed transmission or a version of it, just as Chrysler has promised to do.

C8 Later

When will be see the eighth generation Corvette? Perhaps as soon as early 2013 as a 2014 model. Corvette is the halo model for Chevrolet and, along with Camaro, provides the imagery and leadership the brand wants and needs to differentiate itself from Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, Toyota and other brands.